J.W. Golden, who was the University's first chief of police, serving UT Dallas from 1974 to 1997, died May 4 in Richardson.

During his 23-year tenure, Golden built the UT Dallas Police Department into a staff of 13 commissioned officers and 19 security guards, three dispatchers, a secretary and four clerks.

“I’ve known Chief Golden for several years and he actually visited me here after my appointment to congratulate me,” said the University's current police chief, Larry Zacharias. “Chief Golden was very dedicated to his family, church, and to law enforcement. He told me on several occasions how much he enjoyed UT Dallas.”

When Golden, a former chief of police for the city of Richardson, came on board at UT Dallas in the 1970s, he inherited a security staff of four, one patrol car and two electric golf carts. At the time, there were no apartments or residence halls on campus.

The department added computers in the late 1980s for dispatch/CAD, report writing and recordkeeping. As the campus grew, the department purchased two new Crown Victoria Police Interceptor squads for its new fleet and launched a bike patrol around the Waterview Apartments complex.

The Police Department also moved into a new 4,000-square-foot facility on the northeast corner of campus.

Golden was born Aug. 10, 1924, in Atlas, Texas. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Rosa; children; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters; and nieces and nephews.

Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, at Restland Funeral Home. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 9, at First Baptist Church of Richardson.